Fees and Rebates

• Standard fees vary for daytime and after hours sessions but Medicare covers approximately 50% of the fee, leaving you out-of-pocket for approximately $130 per session
• The initial matching session is $170, with a Medicare rebate of $63.55, under the Mental Health Care Plan. Private health cover may also apply.
• Low fees for people with financial difficulties are available in exceptional circumstances and if your GP requests it in their referral letter. This may also include secondary school students.
• We are registered with many other private health and government insurance agencies, too numerous to mention. You can ask our reception for more information on 1300 161 639 or email us at [e-mail]

Telehealth rebates

The following organisations have approved video sessions:

• Medicare - clients with a Medicare Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) are able to receive the same rebates for online counselling s they do for Face-to-Face counselling.
• Private Health insurance - all private health companies have approved funding for online consultations. You don’t need the GP referral for this.
• Employee assistant consultations (EAP) are available but first check if your company has a program with us and if they don’t, refer them to [e-mail]
• WorkCover - fully funded and immediately available
• TAC - fully funded and immediately available
• VOCAT - fully funded and immediately available
• NDIS - fully funded and immediately available
• DVA - fully funded and immediately available
• Other - please contact Psychology Melbourne for the latest organisations who have approved video sessions.

Medicare rebates

• All our psychologists are registered with Medicare, allowing clients with a referral and a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from their GP to receive a substantial rebate.
• To obtain a referral & MHCP, make an appointment with your GP and they will be able to assist you with this process. Be sure to tell their reception this is what you are coming in for.
• The MHCP entitles you to Medicare rebates for10 individual and 10 group sessionsin a calendar year. After your 6^thsession, your psychologist will advise your GP if you need the extra 4 sessions. 
• To receive the extra sessions, you will need to visit your GP again for a Mental Health Care Plan Review (MHCPR), which you need to bring in before your 7^thsession. 

Other rebates

• Our psychologists are also registered with Private Health Insurance companies, such as Medibank Private, BUPA, AHM, HCF, NIB, & Australian Unity. You will have to check with your own provider to find out what your entitlements are.
• Our psychologists are also registered with many Government Insurance agencies such as CoHealth, VOCAT. TAC, WorkCover, and DVA.
• We are also registered with other Australian Government agencies including Comcare, and Defence. 

Employee Assistance 

• Psychology Melbourne offers Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to small and medium sized companies, who care for their employees’ health and well-being. 
• If your company is listed with us, you may be eligible for 3 – 5 fully funded counselling sessions 
• If you would like to enquire about our EAP, you can speak to our Office Manager, Joanne Siriopoulos on 1300 161 639 or email her at [e-mail]

Cancellation Fees

Psychologist sessions are substantially longer than GPs at just under an hour, with 5 minutes to write up notes. We cannot therefore easily fill appointments when people don’t show up. We cannot keep people waiting for an hour.

We therefore have to charge cancellations fees for cancellations with in 48 hours of their appointment, so that other people on the Wait list can be cared for.

• We require 48-hours notice for an appointment cancellation so that your time can be offered to our waiting lists.
• We send you text reminder three days before your next appointment to ensure enough time to reschedule. You can reply to this text Yes or No.
• We also recommend that you confirm your next appointment each time you attend an appointment at the clinic, to avoid cancellations fees.
• Your appointment may be transferred to a wait list if payment is not received.
• Late Cancellations within 48 hours of the appointment are charged at 50% of the fee. Cancellations within 24 hours of the appointment are charged at 100% of the fee.

Billing 

At Mindstate Psychology, we make your invoicing, rebates and billing as easy as possible for you. 

• We process Medicare rebates directly on same the day and the rebate is applied within 24 hours. We also have a HICAPS machine to process your private health rebate immediately.
• Most payments are processed by credit card and your card details are securely stored in SecurePay and receipts are emailed to you immediately. 
• You can also pay by direct debit on receipt of an invoice sent out to you prior your appointment. You can also pay cash.
• As new client, we require full payment in advance to secure your first appointment. 
• Appointments after 7pm must also be pre-paid and will be processed 24 hours before your appointment. You will receive an email advising when payment has been processed.
• Refunds are always available in appropriate circumstances.
• If your appointment is at one of our other locations, your payments will be processed by our CBD reception, on the day of your appointment, unless your psychologist notifies us otherwise.